He, of course, is New England quarterback Tom Brady, who headlined a 42-14 beatdown of previously 11-1 Houston on Monday Night Football with 296 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots led 21-0 with 11:04 left in the second quarter against a defense that arrived allowing an average of 18.4 points a game.

Running back Frank Gore expressed his admiration for the 49ers’ next opponent with some, um, colorful language.

Indeed, New England (10-3), which is averaging 40.6 points in its seven-game winning streak, is doing some serious balling.

And the 49ers clearly did some studying Monday night.

Cornerback Tarell Brown noted that New England has won 20 straight December home games. And McDonald said they average 25 seconds between plays, the quickest in the NFL. Reserve defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois said, yes, that 42-14 final shocked him, but he didn’t make it to the second half.

“I didn’t look too much once the score got up to 21-zip,” Jean Francois said. “It’s like playing PS3, put the sticks down.”

The Patriots are putting up so many numbers – they lead the NFL in yards (425.7) and points per game (36.3) – that San Francisco (9-3-1) will arrive in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday night in the unfamiliar role of underdog. The Patriots are six-point favorites.

Brown said he was fine without a bullseye on his uniform.

“Yeah, we enjoy being the underdog,” he said. “Anytime you play football, you always have a chip on your shoulder, you always have something to prove every week.”

** Given the upcoming opponent – Randy Moss played with for the Patriots for three-plus seasons (2007-10) – I asked the 49ers wide receiver if he would be speaking to the media this week.

“No,” Moss said as he walked away.

Later, Janie McCauley of the Associated Press had more success.

Well, slightly more success.

Did Moss watch the game Monday night? “No.”

He didn’t need to since he knows the Patriots so well? “Right.”

Will this be the toughest test for San Francisco’s defense? “Probably so. It will be a good one.”

** Reserve defensive lineman/fullback Will Tukuafu had a bag of ice attached to his left forearm. Tukuafu appeared to be injured when he leveled a Dolphins player during a kickoff return in the second half Sunday.